HighlyExalted

3-12-17

Philippians2:9(ESV)Godhashighlyexaltedhim!ThisstatementisaboutJesus.However,thestatementisdirectedtousindicatingGod’sdesiretoexaltus.Thisisclearlyevidentwhenwelookattheverseintroducingthesection.Philippians2:5(NASB)Havethisattitudeinyourselves,whichwasalsoinChristJesus!WeareforgivenandfullofthepoweroftheHolySpirit,yetwearealsotohaveanattitudelikeJesus.Havethisattitudeforapurpose;Godtoexaltus!LookattheattitudeofJesusanddecisionsHEmade.Philippians2:6(ESV)Jesus,thoughHEwasintheformofGod,didnotcountequalitywithGodathingtobegrasped!JesusasGodsetaside,willinglydidnotuse,HISpositionorpowerofdeitytoexaltHimself.HEfunctionedasaregularman.Thisexplains“themystery”ofJesusbeingfullyGodandfullyman.Philippians2:7(NIV)HEmadehimselfnothing(emptiedHimselformadeHimselfofnoreputation)bytakingtheverynatureofaservant,beingmadeinhumanlikeness.

Jesusonearthfunctionedasaman,amanbehavingasmanshouldbehavenotexaltingHimself.Philippians2:8(NIV)Andbeingfoundinappearanceasaman,hehumbledhimselfbybecomingobedienttodeath—evendeathonacross!Jesusbecameobedient!BeforethisasGod,nooneevertoldJesuswhattodo!NowJesusasaperfectmanonlydidthethingsGodtoldHIMtodo,“Therefore,HEbecameobedient!”Jesuswasbehavingasamanwassupposedtobehave!BecauseofChrist’stotalobediencedoingonlywhatGodtoldHIM,GodHIMSELFHighlyExaltedHIM!Philippians2:9(NASB)Forthisreason,GodhighlyexaltedHim,andbestowedonHimthename,whichisaboveeveryname!GodisshowingusthatwhenwehaveanattitudelikeJesus,GodHIMSELFwillexaltusalso!LookatthepicturefromthegospelsshowingJesus’attitudeinactionwhenJesuswashedthedisciplesfeet.John13:14(ESV)IfIthen,yourLordandTeacher,havewashedyourfeet,youalsooughttowashoneanother’sfeet.

Howdoesthispracticallyapplytous?TheScriptureintroducingthissectiongivesusclearapplication.Philippians2:3–4(NIV)Donothingoutofselfishambitionorvainconceit.Rather,inhumilityvalueothersaboveyourselves,notlookingtoyourowninterestsbuteachofyoutotheinterestsoftheothers.ValuingothersaboveourselvesishavingthesameattitudeasChrist,whichopensthedoorforGodtoexaltus!Importantnoteconcerningdifficultpeople:Valuingpeoplewithbadbehaviornecessitatesaddressingtheirbadbehaviorandestablishingboundarieswhenthatbadbehaviorpersists.Howeverourattitudeshouldbeonethatultimatelydesiresthemtodowell.Weareonlyresponsibleforourattitude.Godwantstoexaltus,buthereisthefirststepwemusttaketoallowGodtopourHimselfintous!2Cor.5:21(NASB)HemadeHimwhoknewnosintobesinonourbehalf,sothatwemightbecometherighteousnessofGodinHim.

PropheticTeamHearfromtheHolySpirittochangethecurrent

situationorimpactthefuture.